Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-05-19

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more about the lane.
But, as fate would have it, the.Legis-
lature of the State about that time
happened to recognize the fact that
there were number of DEVILS lanes
inside its boundaries; and, appreciat-
ing the fact that they were but stand
ing monuments of mans peryersity,
some one introduced bill to do away
with them forever. In case the parties
in interest could not or would not
agree to build joint fence, the trus-
tees of the township were authorized to
locate the line, build fence upon it,
and charge the expense to the general
tax.
This, Dick knew, but his stcady-go-
ing neighbor did not So that when
some one happened to remark to Dick
that it was about time the lane was
closed up, it set the young man to
thinking very earnestly.
Why should Uncle Joe persist so
foolishly in maintaining that crop Of
bushes and briars. His farm was
everywhere else a model of thrift
After awhile he ventured to approach
Uncle Joe again on the subject and
told him, as the law then was, he
didn't see but the lane would have to
be done away with. But the old man
was immovable. 1t passes all compre-
hension what an amount of litigation
and neighborhood difficulty have
grown out of so simple matter as the
construction of line fence. Men sens
ible in most matters have been made
enemies for life by just such a thing as
that. 1t is my duty to chronicle the
fact that, the more Dick thought about
it the more it aroused him. 1t was
downright meanness on the old mans
part to stand out in that way, accord
ing to Dicks opinion. Of course, he
was an old man now and full of
whims; but he ought to listen to COM
mon sense.
He finally talked it over with Bess
and, like the sensible girl she was, she
sought to act us mediator between
the two men. 1t was not the first time
a woman's heart has been crushed by
the obstinacy of two men, like wheat
by millstones. Uncle Joe finally told
Bess never to mention the thing to
him again. The fence was all right as
it was and should not be disturbed.
He had thought Dick Lamson "a pref
ty square kind of fellow" but if that
was the way he was going to act, he
didn't want any thing more to do with
him; and, as for Bess, she needn't
think she would ever get his consent
to marry such an out-and-out scoundre
as he was!
OF course that put the climax on the
trouble. Bess, with her lovely eyes
full of tears, told her lover the ole
mans decision, and Dicks teeth came
together hard as he listened.
So it was war, was itp Well, if thai
was so, he would see what the law
could do.
In about ten days after that the trus
tees went out to the farms and very
gravely struggled through the tangled
lane and staked out the line. Ther
they served notice on the two mer
that they must build good legal fence
there within thirty days. Uncle JOE
grimly looked on, and remarked tina
he guessed he knew what the law was
and he'd try to live up to 1t.
Dick went at once to work and GU
rails and drew them to the lane for tn,
purpose of building his part of thu
fence, but Uncle Joe made no move il
that direction. He spent much of hi
time in the neighborhood of the lane
He carried his gun most of the time
Now and then he brought home rab
bit for dinner. He had been, so he wa
fond of saying, something of a hunte
in his time, and even now was counted
good shot for man of his age.
After Dick had finished splittin:
rails for the fence, he had sharpene'
his axe, and, taking good scythe
went down to clear the ground o
brushes and briars. He knew thi
would be mo small task, but his arm
were strong and his will good. Hard
ly an hour had he worked when riff
shot rang out on the air, and hi
strong right arm dropped to his side
painfully wounded. So severe was hi
injury that he could do nothini
toward discovering who fired the mur
derous shot, and he was alone. Afte
he had made his way to the house, til
alarm was given, and a crowd of me
and boys turned out and hunted tn
lane from end to end, but in vain, n
one could be found hiding there, an
= the deed remained mystery.
! In this way things stood for som
time. Dicks arm healed slowly
somehow. The bone had been in
jured little, the doctor said. Die
|, saw Bess now and then. He could nc
: help noticing that the poor girl
' cheeks were growing paler day by da.
= and she seemed ready to break dow
. whenever he came to see her, He
4 father was home but little now, Nigl
and day he stood guard at the lane,
A sturdy veteran on some self-impose
! post of duty. He had even slept OF
a in the bushes several times all nigh
!, coming to his meals in the mornin
stiff and sore from the damp, but wit
j. determined look on his face. 4
4 was a man who never yielded what
o thought was his right.
h The thirty days given by law ha
v passed, and the township truste,
"allowed" to build a fence in fe
e days. They had watched things fro
Is distance, and knew how despera
| tho old man xyas